Mike Brown didn't want uncertainty to drag on. He wanted everyone to know what has clearly been the case for nearly 12 years now: Marvin Lewis is his guy.

That's why the two agreed Friday on a one-year extension keeping Lewis coach of the Bengals through 2015.

"For Mike, it was important to him," Lewis said. "He was persistent in that he did not want me to go into the season with one year left on the contract. So we were able to come to an agreement."

Brown and Lewis have been down this road before. This marks the seventh time he's either signed a new contract or an extension of a current deal since joining in 2003.

Despite Lewis' 0-5 record in the postseason, the team president stands by his coach. Brown prefers to cite the team's regular season success over playoff failure.

"Marvin has earned this commitment for the job he is doing," Brown said. "We are one of only five teams to qualify for the playoffs the last three years, and our prospects are bright looking ahead. Marvin is driven to achieve more, and we are happy to secure his leadership of our team beyond the coming season."

In the NFL, nothing is truly guaranteed through the coming season and the short length of the extension did raise a few eyebrows. The one-year extension isn't all that rare. Atlanta's Mike Smith and New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin both signed the same one-year extension on their deals earlier this offseason.

The deal does eliminate any residual doubt from the idea Brown doesn't still support Lewis following the disappointing close to the 2013 AFC North championship campaign.

The reason for questions persist, though. Lewis, 55, is the most tenured coach in Bengals history and second-most tenured with one team in the NFL (Bill Belichick, New England). He's 90-90-1 for his career and holds the NFL record for most games coaching one team without a playoff win. He's second only to Jim Mora Sr., in most total games coached without a playoff victory.

Those numbers and dubious distinctions don't dispel Lewis, however, they drive him.

"It's part of the thing that keeps everything going," he said. "Obviously the goal each year is to win the division, win playoff games and eventually become world champions and you've got to keep pushing forward and fighting through it. I'd be more concerned if we've never been to the playoffs. We have a group of players that's not satisfied - players, coaches and front office that aren't satisfied where we've been."

Nobody can deny the franchise sits in as comfortable a situation as it has in more than two decades. The 30 regular-season wins since 2011 are most in franchise history during a three-year span.

Drafts consistently have produced quality players in middle rounds like Geno Atkins and Marvin Jones while the team uncovered gems off the radar like Wallace Gilberry and Vontaze Burfict.

This upward trend stems directly from the relationship between Lewis and Brown, a relationship adding yet another injection of security Friday. Lewis believes they've altered perception of stereotypes of the team president who has lived in the crosshairs of frustrated fans for decades.

"I think we've been able to dispel that myth that was around here that Mike Brown didn't care about winning, because really that's all he cares about," Lewis said. "He just wants to make sure we devote all of resources in that direction each and every year as we get ready for the season. We devote our resources to the players that are in this building."

LEWIS ANTICIPATED DEPARTURES: In the wake of Michael Johnson and Anthony Collins bolting for Tampa Bay and Andrew Hawkins potentially leaving for Cleveland, Marvin Lewis offered a feeling of expecting what happened over the flurry of free agency this week.

Nothing took him by surprise.

"We anticipated that," Lewis said. "I think everybody did. I felt like last year we did a good job of extending the guys we extended in order to cover some of those if that be the case. We tried to do what we could do in the constraints of the way we've mapped out the rest of the football team to get two or three guys that moved on."

The team still has not made a decision to match the offer sheet signed by wide receiver Andrew Hawkins with the Browns. They received the sheet Thursday and plan to take their team before making a call.

The Bengals are among seven teams as of Friday evening to not sign a free agent from another team (Houston, Kansas City, Dallas, Carolina, Green Bay, St. Louis).

They continue to save for contract extensions for their own players such as receiver A.J. Green and linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

GHEE GONE: Cornerback Brandon Ghee signed with San Diego late Thursday. A third-round pick of the Bengals in 2010, he played 10 games in 2013 without a start.

His primary area of expertise became slot coverage, but injuries have haunted him over the years. This past season was the first time he played since 2011. He battled a concussion and thigh injury last year.

It's a return for Moch, a Bengals third-round pick in 2011. Cincinnati cut him last preseason when he couldn't find a fit in their system. He's a rare athlete with one of the most freakish combines in history, but makes sense for the team to test out and see if he can find his niche with the Bengals.

He led the Bengals with three sacks last preseason.

GUARDS IN: The Bengals hosted two reserve guard prospects Friday.

Vladimir Ducasse, who played for the Jets, and Uche Nwaneri, formerly of Jacksonville, both visited. If signed, they fall into the category of reserve guards as the Bengals eye depth on the offensive line.